Building construction

ABSTRACT

A combination stud and wallboard baseplate has a bottom panel adapted to rest on a foundation and upstanding longitudinally extending flanges on the panel provide therebetween a studreceiving channel and parallel thereto and along one margin of the panel a wallboard edge-receiving channel. Means are provided for anchoring the bottom panel to a foundation, and more particularly a poured concrete foundation and comprising depending spaced parallel anchoring flanges. One of the upstanding flanges is equipped to facilitate securing a stud in place. On one edge of the baseplate is an outwardly and downwardly sloping combination mounting gauge for the plate and serving also as a siding spacer and starter. An improved door frame arrangement as well as threshold structure are provided.

United States Patent Monroe 1 51 Jan, 25, 1972 1 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 3,170,269 2/1965 Dunnington .52 293 [72] Inventor: Donald G. Monroe, Prospect g L 3,440,780 4/1969 Adam et al. ..52/l69 [73] Assignee: Active Garage Builders Inc., Chicago, lll. Primary hammer-Price t Pl d J 9 1970 Attorney-Hill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross & Simpson 1 e an.

[211 App]. No.: 1,721 ABSTRACT A combination stud and wallboard baseplate has a bottom [52] US. Cl ..52/293 52/699 panel adapted to rest on a foundation and psmnding longm" 51 1m. (:1 ..E0 4b 1 40 finally extending flanges Pane Pmvide therebetwee" a [58] mm of Search ..52/293 295 294 300 241 sud'receivirg and and 7 6 margin of the panel a wallboard edge-receiving channel. I Means are provided for anchoring the bottom panel to a foun- 5 References Cited dation, and more particularly a poured concrete foundation and comprising depending spaced parallel anchoring flanges. UNITED STATES PATENTS One of the upstanding flanges is equipped to facilitate securing a stud in place. On one edge of the baseplate is an out- Brogden ..52/495 X ward|y and downwardly sloping combination mounting gauge 2,] 17.996 5/19 8 Barnett ..52/295 X for the plate and Serving also as 3 Siding Spacer and starter. An l0 2 :gsr improved door frame arrangement as well as threshold strucnon 2,664,] 79 12/1953 Gwynne ...287/189.36 R mm are provided. 2,723,730 11/1955 Bailey ..52/293 X 16 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 2,966,708 l/l96l Freeman ..52/295 PATENTEDJANZSISYZ 3636373 sum 1 or 3 A'I'TORNEY'S BUILDING CONSTRUCTION This invention relates to building construction, and is more particularly concerned with features of the base structures especially adaptable for wooden frame buildings. Lack A principal problem in wooden frame building construction is in the base or starter structure on which the lower ends of the studs rest and to which they are secured. This has generally heretofore consisted in laying on and sometimes bolting to the foundation a timber such as a two-by-four and nailing the lower ends of the studs thereto as by diagonally driven nails. Such a base structure is difficult to arrange square according to plan, is highly susceptible to deterioration due to moisture, especially where relatively close to grade as in garages and similar utility buildings. lack of squareness and practical difficulties in attaining true elevation for flatness in poured concrete foundations and slabs increase the difficulty in attaining any substantial degree of accuracy in the stud base structure. Variations from true elevation result in gaps between the foundation surface and the stud base members with all the resulting disadvantages of lack of weather tightness, insect and small creature entries, sagging tendencies, and the like. Considerable skill has been demanded and often time-consuming and expensive expedients have been employed to overcome these deficiencies as well as others, involved in the conventional wooden timber stud base Stl'UCtLII'BS.

Another problem has been that of starting the siding at the base ends of the studs, and attempting to compensate for and close the gaps betweenthe base timber and the foundation. Where gypsum wallboard is employed as the rough siding an especial problem in respect to moisture-induced deterioration along the lower edge is prevalent.

According to the present invention, the foregoing and other disadvantages, shortcomings, inefficiencies and problems are overcome by the provision of new and improved building structure having particular, regard to an especially advantageous wall-supporting baseplate and related structures. An important object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved combination stud and wallboard baseplate and related structures.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved combination stud and wallboard baseplate structure which greatly facilitates starting frame building construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved means for providing a square, level stud base.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved one piece combination stud and wallboard plate structure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved combination stud and wallboard baseplate structure including a novel combination mounting gauge and siding starter.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved stud baseplate structure having novel means for securing studs thereto.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved stud base and door frame assembly for wooden frame buildings.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved building structure having novel threshold means.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a new and improved concrete slab and building wall foundation structure especially suitable for garage type buildings.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from thefollowing description of certain preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure, and in which:

FIG. I is a fragmentary perspective view of one comer of a concrete floor and foundation slab according to the invention and showing various details of combination stud and wallboard base structure and threshold structures embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective inside comer view of the same structure as shown in FIG. 1 but with studs, rough siding wallboard and door framing in place:

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional detail view taken substantially along the line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary detail taken at the base of the vehicle entrance door frame shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmental isometric detail view looking generally rearwardly, in a position adjacent to the threshold shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view taken substantially on the plane of line VI-VI of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially along the line VII-VII of FIG. 6.

By way of example, the invention will be described as embodied in a utility building structure such as a garage, although it will be readily apparent that various features of the invention are applicable to other types of buildings, and more particularly wooden frame buildings wherein the framing comprises wooden studs and siding. In the illustrated example,- a foundation 10 (FIG. 1) is desirably of poured concrete, monolithic throughout the outline of the intended building and for which it will serve as the load bearing support, and monolithic with a floor slab 11 within the foundation. By

preference, the foundation 10 extends to a suitable height above ground level or grade 12 to provide a protective curb or dike against ingress of drainage and also to rise above the general floor level of the floor slab II which is thus sunk below the top of the foundation but is desirably above the level of the grade 12, though not as high as the foundation, but sufiiciently so that while the floor surface of the slab l I slopes from the rear downwardly toward the front of the building outline to promote good drainage, its front edge 13 will be close to grade but will be elevated to a limited extend to prevent blowing in of rain, snow or loose material when the garage door, not shown, is closed down thereagainst. Forwardly from the front edge 13 of the floor slab a driveway or ramp 14 may be provided.

On the foundation 10 are mounted means for anchoring the superstructure of the building, and comprising longitudinally on and along each extent of the foundation a combination stud and wallboard baseplate 15. In an efficient, low cost, sturdy, highly advantageous form, the baseplate may be constructed as an aluminum extrusion, although as will be evident it could be made as a rolled section from any suitable material. Synthetic materials may be employed for the plate structure, but aluminum has, currently, advantages both as to availability, low cost, ease of manufacture by extrusion process, ready workability, lightweight, corrosion resistance, and the like.

If preferred, the appropriate length of sections of the plate 15 may be anchored to the selected lengths of the foundation 10 after the foundation has been poured and the concrete cured. A preferred and advantageous structure of the plate has it equipped with means for anchoring it in the foundation while the concrete is still plastic so that when the concrete has set and cured the plate is permanently anchored thereto and provides a thorough weather seal across the top of the foundation. To this end, the plate 15 is provided with integral depending anchor flange means arranged to be embedded in the foundation and comprising at least an inner edge longitudinal depending anchor flange l7 and an outer edge depending longitudinal depending anchor flange 18 (FIG. 3). To facilitate extrusion of the section, the flanges l7 and 18 are desirably continuous and of uniform dimensions throughout. A thoroughly interlocked relationship of the flanges l7 and 18 with the concrete of the foundation is assured by the provision along the lower edges of the flanges of laterally turned or extending anchoring beads 19 serving as anchor lug terminals and desirably located on the inner sides of the respective flanges to leave the outer sides thereof plain. Additional anchorage is desirably provided by means of a longitudinal spear headed depending anchoring flange 20 intermediate the flanges l7 and 18 and which may be narrower, as shown. Through this arrangement, the plate I5 is adapted to be applied to the plastic concrete of the foundation immediately after the foundation has been poured within a concrete form, by pressing and working the flanges l7, l8 and 20 down into the concrete until the underside of the plate is in firm contact with the concrete. ln effecting this, one of the depending edge flanges, herein the flange'l8, is desirably located at the outer face and to become the upper portion of the outer face of the foundation. Thereby, the flange 18 serves as a gauge for accurate longitudinal placement of the baseplate, by sliding the flange l8 downwardly along the inner side of a removable concrete, or so-called cement, form 21 of any preferred type which serves to form the outer side of the foundation and also provides a screed to determine the height of the concrete foundation. Further, finishing of the top of the foundation is avoided by applying the plate 15 thereto and using the screed 21 to gauge the height accurately. For this purpose, the plate is desirably provided with a ganging flange 22 extending downwardly and outwardly obliquely from an upward extension 23 from the flange 18. By having the top of the screed 21 level, resting of the edge of the gauging flange 22 thereon, with the flange 18 square against the vertical inner surface of the screed perfectly locates the plate 15 horizontally. Because of its flange reinforced construction, the plate 15 will remain it substantial warp-free, rigid square alignment, resisting distortion and remaining true while being pressed and worked into position in the foundation concrete. After the concrete has set and the screed form 21 has been removed, the outer face of the flange 18 serves as the upper portion of the outer face of the foundation [0, and the flange 22 is free to overhang the outer side of the foundation as part of a weather seal provided by it and the flange extension as well as the flange 18.

At the inner side of the foundation [0, the flange 17 may be flush with the inner side of the foundation similarly as the flange 18 is flush with the outer side, but in a preferred form, the flange 17 is completely embedded in the concrete and the foundation is provided with a fillet 24 of preferably ogee form sloping downwardly from about the level of the plate 15 to the floor surface of the floor slab 11. Through this arrangement, the fillet 24 provides an inside curb for the floor to drain away from the foundation and by avoiding sharp corners makes the curb area easy to clean. It also provides a protective buffer for the lower portion of the building structure. By having the ends of the respective baseplate sections cut square, they will when joined in right angular abutment, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, assure that the base outline for the building will be square.

ln constructing the building superstructure, studs 25 (FIGS. 2 and 3) such as two-by-four timers, are erected by resting their lower ends on the baseplate 15. Means for properly orienting the lower ends of the studs comprise a channel arrangement on the upper face of the plate arranged to receive the studs with their major transverse dimension extending across and normal to the length of the plate. For this purpose, the plate is provided withan upwardly projecting flange 27 as an extension of an in a plane with the flange l7 and coextensive therewith along the inner edge of the baseplate. ln order to enable the flange 27 to be secured to the base end portion of the stud 25 as by means of nails 28, the flange 27 extends to a height sufficient to provide for a pair of vertically spaced nailing grooves 29 in an upper portion thereof sufficiently spaced from one another and above the plate 15 to enable reception of the securing nails 28 without splitting the wood of the stud where the nails are relatively offset not only with respect to one another but also with respect to the width of the stud, substantially as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Not only do the nailing grooves 29 provide guide marks on the flange 27 to show where the nails should be driven, but they provide thin areas in the flange to facilitate driving the nails therethrough and avoiding any need for prepunching the flange to receive the nails. To reinforce the flange 27 it is desirably provided with a thickened upper edge 30 which is desirably formed with an inwardly projecting claw tip 31 therealong adapted to bite into the confronting surface of the stud 25 to enhance the stud anchorage. Placement of the stud base and assisting in retaining it in place to be nailed is a backup channel flange 33 rising from the plate 15 in coextensive spaced parallel relation to the flange 27 and confronting the edge of the stud opposite to that which is in nailing confrontation to the flange 27. For this purpose the flange 33 need be only a fraction as high as the flange 27, such for example as on the order of about one-third as high, but high enough to back up the stud effectively while the anchoring nails 28 are being driven.

in order to facilitate placement of and to at least initially support siding wallboard 34, and more particularly such wallboard to serve as rough sliding, the flanges 23 and 33 of the plate 15 cooperate in spaced parallel coextensive relation to provide a channel outwardly alongside the stud-receiving channel to receiving the lower edge of the wallboard 34. Further, by thus receiving the wallboard, a thorough weather seal relationship is provided across the base of the building superstructure. While the wallboard 34 may be of any desired construction, gypsum wallboard or other type of wallboard having a generally rigid, heat-insulating and preferably also fire-resistant core within parallel covers is especially well suited for the purpose. Any preferred means for securing the wallboard 34 to the studs 25 may be employed, such as nails 35.

Over the outer side of the wallboard 34 a protective siding is desirably attached such as clapboard-type panels 37 which may be metal backed by an insulating material and having along their lower edges respective hooklike flanges 38 interengageable with complementary oblique anchor flanges 39 along the upper margins of subjacent panels and which upper margins are secured to the wallboard 34 as by means of the nails 35. The first course of the siding panels 37 is secured in place by engaging its lower edge hook flanges 38 with the gauging flange 22 of the baseplate serving in this instance as a starter strip flange with which the hook flange 38 interengages in a manner to complete the weather seal across the base of the building superstructure.

As will be observed in F IGS. l and 5, at the comers of the building, the contiguous ends of the baseplate members are so related that the wallboard channel of one of the members opens in alignment with the end of the other of the members to enable full closing of the corner by engagement of the respective vertical end edge portions of the wallboards at the comers, and the outer surface siding panels 37 will be joined and corner strips applied as is customary with this type of sidmg.

A vehicle entrance is framed at the front edge 13 of the floor slab 11 as by having shortened lengths of the foundation l0 and baseplate assembly blunt ended at each side of the vehicle door opening for supporting and anchoring at each blunt end a vertical framing timber 40 (FIGS. 2 and 4). For this purpose, the framing timber is desirably notched out as at 41 in its lower end to seat onthe adjacent end portion of the baseplate 15 to receive the anchoring nails 28 driven through the anchoring flange 27. The lower end portion of the framing timber 40 alongside the notch may then extend freely along the blunt end of the foundation and provide a door-receiving length extending to the floor.

It is generally desirable to provide an access door in addition to the vehicle entrance door, and this may be provided for by a suitable gap at the desired place in the baseplate, as best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, and in that gap mounting a threshold 42 on the foundation 10 with its end in contiguity with the discontinuous ends of the baseplate. In a desirable form, the

threshold 42 may comprise an aluminum extrusion having a body which slopes from the inner side toward the outer side and has thereunder in order to maintain the sloping relation and to have the threshold of as thin a section as practicable, a set of parallel spaced stepped spacer ribs 43 which rest on the top of the foundation, or may be embedded in the cement thereof, if preferred. Along the outer side, the threshold 42 is desirably provided with a cap or kick plate depending skirt 44 which bears against the outer face of the foundation or may be embedded substantially flush therewith. Desirably a weather strip 45 is inserted in a groove extending longitudinally in the upper face of the threshold 42 adjacent to its inner margin. Such strip may be of vinyl or other suitable resilient material for engagement with the lower edge of a door which will be hung on a door frame 48 which will frame the door opening. The lower ends of the door frame are desirably engaged with the baseplate at the opposite ends of the threshold 42, with the siding board panel flanges 23 and 33 desirably suitably cut out, as shown in FIG. 5 to receive the lower ends of the door frame uprights which are adapted to be anchored in place by nailing the same to the anchor flange 27. At their outer edges, the door frame uprights 48 may overhang and extend downwardly along the foundation l0 alongside the threshold weather seal and kick plate 44, as shown at 49 (FIG. 2). If desired, a sidewalk 50 (FIG. 1) may be provided in alignment with the doorway opening.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention enables easy, rapid and accurate frame building construction, at least in the initial stage wherein the combination stud and wallboard baseplate structure provides continuous straight lengths which are as free as may practically be obtained from sagging, bending or other warpage, are adapted to be quite accurately mounted on a freshly poured cement or concrete foundation both as to elevation and as to building perimeter or outline, and after setting of the foundation not only provide for easy and accurate erecting of the studs and wallboard, as well as siding thereon and thereto, but provide efficient weather seal across the joint between the foundation and the building. Doorway openings and framing therefor are efficiently accommodated and maintained in erected condition as facilitated by the baseplate structure. An efficient threshold structure is provided especially cooperative with respect to the baseplate structure. Exceptional benefits are derived by use of the invention in the construction of utility buildings such as garages.

lclaim:

I. In a building structure:

a wall-supporting baseplate having a bottom panel adapted to rest on a foundation and upstanding longitudinally extending upward-opening and channel-defining flanges on said panel;

means for anchoring said panel to the foundation;

one of said flanges being along an edge of said panel;

said one flange having on its outer side a generally out wardly projecting gauging element adapted to rest on a cement fonn to determine an installed height for the baseplate on a freshly poured concrete foundation; and

said gauging element comprising a downwardly and obliquely outwardly directed flange extending uniformly along the length of said one flange and adapted to serve also as a starter flange for attachment of the first course of siding panels in constructing a wall on the panel.

2. In a building structure according to claim 1, said gauging and starter flange being integral with an upper portion of said one flange and serving also as a weather seal strip in combination with said one flange.

3. In a building structure according to claim I, said one flange having a portion extending downwardly below said panel and adapted to engage against a confronting side of the cement form to determine longitudinal orientation of said plate.

4. In a building structure:

a combination stud and wallboard baseplate having a bottom panel adapted to rest on a foundation and upstanding longitudinally extending flanges on said panel providing therebetween a stud-receiving channel and parallel thereto and along one margin of said panel a wallboard edge-receiving channel; and

means for anchoring said bottom panel to the foundation;

one of the flanges providing the wallboard edge-receiving channel being located along an edge of the bottom panel and having thereon a downwardly and outwardly extending gauging and starter strip extension.

5. In a building structure according to claim 4, said extension comprising a continuous oblique flange, and a siding starter course having an inturned lower edge hook flange engaging said extension flange in weather-sealing relation.

6. In a building structure according to claim 4, a plurality of longitudinally extending downwardly projecting anchoring flanges on said bottom panel including one such flange along each margin of the panel and another such flange intermediately thereof.

7. In a building structure according to claim 6, said anchoring flanges along the margins of the panel having inturned anchoring projections along their lower edges, and said intermediate anchoring flange having anchoring projections along its lower edge extending in opposite lateral directions.

8. In a building structure according to claim 6, one of said marginal anchoring flanges being in alignment with said one flange and adapted to abut a cement form on which said gauging extension is adapted to rest, whereby the bottom panel will be supported in vertical and horizontal orientation relative to the form on a freshly poured cement foundation.

9. In a building structure including a combination stud and wallboard baseplate having a bottom panel adapted to rest on a foundation and upstanding longitudinally extending flanges on said panel providing therebetween a stud-receiving channel and parallel thereto and along one margin of said panel a wallboard edge-receiving channel, and means for anchoring said bottom panel to the foundation:

the combination with said baseplate of a foundation along which said baseplate extends and said means for anchoring securing the baseplate to the foundation; and

a threshold member mounted on said foundation in alignment with and in endwise contiguity to one end of said baseplate and including a depending kick plate panel along an outer side of said foundation.

10. In a building structure combination according to claim 9, a door frame member mounted on and secured to said baseplate at said end of the baseplate and having a portion extending downwardly along the foundation contiguous to the adjacent end of said kick plate panel.

11. In a building structure including a combination stud and wallboard baseplate having a bottom panel adapted to rest on a foundation and upstanding longitudinally extending flanges on said panel providing therebetween a stud-receiving channel and parallel thereto and along one margin of said panel a wallboard edge-receiving channel, and means for anchoring said bottom panel to the foundation:

the combination with said baseplate of a curb foundation on which said baseplate rests and to which said means for anchoring secures the baseplate;

said baseplate and said foundation having coextensive ends at a doorway opening; and

a door frame member mounted on and secured to said baseplate and having a portion thereof extending downwardly along the foundation end.

12. In a building structure including a combination stud and wallboard baseplate having a bottom panel adapted to rest on a foundation and upstanding longitudinally extending flanges on said panel providing therebetween a stud-receiving channel and parallel thereto and along one margin of said panel a wallboard edge-receiving channel, and means for anchoring said bottom panel to the foundation, said baseplate having an end:

the combination therewith of a second baseplate having an end portion in edgewise contiguity to said end and having an end aligned with an edge of the first-mentioned baseplate;

said second baseplate having a plurality of flanges providing a stud channel and a wallboard edge-receiving channel the same as said first-mentioned baseplate;

said wallboard edge-receiving channel being located at the outer side of a comer defined by the baseplates;

said baseplates having and attachment flanges along their inner edges;

the stud attachment flange which extends along the inner edge of the baseplate which is contiguous to the end of the other of the baseplates being notched out in line with the wallboard edge-receiving channel of said other of said plates to enable close edge contiguity of wallboards received in said edge-receiving channels.

13. In a building structure: 6

a wall-supporting baseplate having a bottom panel adapted to rest on a foundation and upstanding longitudinally extending upward-opening channel-defining flanges on said panel;

means for anchoring said panel to the foundation;

one of said flanges being along an edge of said panel;

said one flange having on its outer side a generally outwardly projecting gauging element adapted to rest on a cement form to determine an installed height for the baseplate on a freshly poured concrete foundation;

and said means for anchoring comprising a plurality of depending longitudinally extending anchoring flanges on said plate adapted to be embedded in the freshly poured concrete of the foundation and comprising an anchoring flange along each opposite longitudinal margin of the panel and another anchoring flange located intermediatev ly and spaced from the marginal anchoring flanges, said intermediate anchoring flange having lateral anchoring projections thereon.

14. An elongated combination stud and wallboard carrying baseplate adapted to be supported on a poured foundation of cementitious material, comprising:

downwardly facing gauging means integral with one longitudinal edge portion of the baseplate adapted to rest on a form member to determine the elevation of the baseplate; and

a plurality of flanges depending from the baseplate and adapted to be embedded in the cementitious material of LII the foundation and comprising three spaced-apart longitudinally extending anchoring flanges one being along each margin of the plate and another being at an intermediate location one of said flanges depending from said edge portion of the baseplate and being adapted to abut an inner side of the form member to determine the longitudinal placement of the baseplate; whereby the baseplate is adapted to be supported on and oriented relative to the form member until the foundation material has set,'thereby attaining accurate vertical and longitudinal placement of the baseplate on the foundation.

[5. A baseplate according to claim 14, said intermediate anchoring flange having a spearhead shape.

16. An elongated combination stud and wallboard carrying baseplate adapted to be supported on a poured foundation of cementitious material, comprising;

downwardly facing gauging means integral with one longitudinal edge portion of the baseplate adapted to rest on a form member to determine the elevation of the baseplate;

a flange depending from said edge portion of the baseplate adapted to abut an inner side of the form member to determine the longitudinal placement of the baseplate whereby the baseplate is adapted to be supported on and oriented relative to the form member until he foundation material has set, thereby attaining accurate vertical and longitudinal placement of the baseplate on the foundation;

an upward extension from said depending flange; and

said gauging means comprising a downwardly and outwardly extending continuous flange on said extension serving not only as gauging means but also as a weather seal and means for engagement by a hook flange of a siding starter course.

UNITED STATES PATENT oTTTcE CERTIFICATE 0F CQRRECHON Patent No. 3,636,673 Dated January 25, 1972 Inventor(s) Donald G. Monroe It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. l, line 4, delete "Lack"; line l4, "lack" should read --Lack--.

Col. 2, line 35 for "extend" read --eXtent-. I

Col. 3, lines 24 and 25 remain it substantial" should read --retain its substantially-.-; line 55, "an in" should read --and in---.

C01. 4, line ll, for siding" read --sliding--; line 14, for "receiving read -receive--.

Co]. 6, line 74, for "and" read ---stud-- Signed and sealed this 21st day of November 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHEZR,JB. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM'DC 60376-F'59 a U5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 969 0-366334 

1. In a building structure: a wall-supporting baseplate having a bottom panel adapted to rest on a foundation and upstanding longitudinally extending upward-opening channel-defining flanges on said panel; means for anchoring said panel to the foundation; one of said flanges being along an edge of said panel; said one flange having on its outer side a generally outwardly projecting gauging element adapted to rest on a cement form to determine an installed height for the baseplate on a freshly poured concrete foundation; and said gauging element comprising a downwardly and obliquely outwardly directed flange extending uniformly along the length of said one flange and adapted to serve also as a starter flange for attachment of the first course of siding panels in constructing a wall on the panel.
 2. In a building structure according to claim 1, said gauging and starter flange being integral with an upper portion of said one flange and serving also as a weather seal strip in combination with said one flange.
 3. In a building structure according to claim 1, said one flange having a portion extending downwardly below said panel and adapted to engage against a confronting side of the cement form to determine longitudinal orientation of said plate.
 4. In a building structure: a combination stud and wallboard baseplate having a bottom panel adapted to rest on a foundation and upstanding longitudinally extending flanges on said panel providing therebetween a stud-receiving channel and parallel thereto and along one margin of said panel a wallboard edge-receiving channel; and means for anchoring said bottom panel to the foundation; one of the flanges providing the wallboard edge-receiving channel being located along an edge of the bottom panel and having thereon a downwardly and outwardly extending gauging and starter strip extension.
 5. In a building structure according to claim 4, said extension comprising a continuous oblique flange, and a siding starter course having an inturned lower edge hook flange engaging said extension flange in weather-sealing relation.
 6. In a building structure according to claim 4, a plurality of longitudinally extending downwardly projecting anchoring flanges on said bottom panel including one such flange along each margin of the panel and another such flange intermediately thereof.
 7. In a building structure according to claim 6, said anchoring flanges along the margins of the panel having inturned anchoring projections along their lower edges, and said intermediate anchoring flange having anchoring projections along its lower edge extending in opposite lateral directions.
 8. In a building structure according to claim 6, one of said marginal anchoring flanges being in alignment with said one flange and adapted to abut a cement form on which said gauging extension is adapted to rest, whereby the bottom panel will be supported in vertical and horizontal orientation relative to the form on a freshly poured cement foundation.
 9. In a building structure including a combination stud and wallboard baseplate having a bottom panel adapted to rest on a foundation and upstanding longitudinally extending flanges on said panel providing therebetween a stud-receiving channel and parallel thereto and along one margin of said panel a wallboard edge-receiving channel, and means for anchoring said bottom panel to the foundation: the combination with said baseplate of a foundation along which said baseplate extends and said means for anchoring securing the baseplate to the foundation; and a threshold member mounted on said foundation in alignment with and in endwise contiguity to one end of said baseplate and including a depending kick plate panel along an outer side of said foundation.
 10. In a building structure combination according to claim 9, a door frame member mounted on and secured to said baseplate at said end of the baseplate and having a portion extending downwardly along the foundation contiguous to the adjacent end of said kick plate panel.
 11. In a building structure including a combination stud and wallboard baseplate having a bottom panel adapted to rest on a foundation and upstanding longitudinally extending flanges on said panel providing therebetween a stud-receiving channel and parallel thereto and along one margin of said panel a wallboard edge-receiving channel, and means for anchoring said bottom panel to the foundation: the combination with said baseplate of a curb foundation on which said baseplate rests and to which said means for anchoring secures the baseplate; said baseplate and said foundation having coextensive ends at a doorway opening; and a door frame member mounted on and secured to said baseplate and having a portion thereof extending downwardly along the foundation end.
 12. In a building structure including a combination stud and wallboard baseplate having a bottom panel adapted to rest on a foundation and upstanding longitudinally extending flanges on said panel providing therebetween a stud-receiving channel and parallel thereto and along one margin of said panel a wallboard edge-receiving channel, and means for anchoring said bottom panel to the foundation, said baseplate having an end: the combination therewith of a second baseplate having an end portion in edgewise contiguity to said end and having an end aligned with an edge of the first-mentioned baseplate; said second baseplate having a plurality of flanges providing a stud channel and a wallboard edge-receiving channel the same as said first-mentioned baseplate; said wallboard edge-receiving channel being located at the outer side of a corner defined by the baseplates; said baseplates having stud attachment flanges along their inner edges; the stud attachment flange which extends along the inner edge of the baseplate which is contiguous to the end of the other of the baseplates being notched out in line with the wallboard edge-receiving channel of said other of said plates to enable close edge contiguity of wallboards received in said edge-receiving channels.
 13. In a building structure: a wall-supporting baseplate having a bottom panel adapted to rest on a foundation and upstanding longitudinally extending upward-opening channel-defining flanges on said panel; means for anchoring said panel to the foundation; one of said flanges being along an edge of said panel; said one flange having on its outer side a generally outwardly projecting gauging element adapted to rest on a cement form to determine an installed height for the baseplate on a freshly poured concrete foundation; and said means for anchoring comprising a plurality of depending longitudinally extending anchoring flanges on said plate adapted to be embedded in the freshly poured concrete of the foundation and comprising an anchoring flange along each opposite longitudinal margin of the panel and another anchoring flange located intermediately and spaced from the marginal anchoring flanges, said intermediate anchoring flange having lateral anchoring projections thereon.
 14. An elongated combination stud and wallboard carrying baseplate adapted to be supported on a poured foundation of cementitious material, comprising: downwardly facing gauging means integral with one longitudinal edge portion of the baseplate adaptEd to rest on a form member to determine the elevation of the baseplate; and a plurality of flanges depending from the baseplate and adapted to be embedded in the cementitious material of the foundation and comprising three spaced-apart longitudinally extending anchoring flanges one being along each margin of the plate and another being at an intermediate location one of said flanges depending from said edge portion of the baseplate and being adapted to abut an inner side of the form member to determine the longitudinal placement of the baseplate; whereby the baseplate is adapted to be supported on and oriented relative to the form member until the foundation material has set, thereby attaining accurate vertical and longitudinal placement of the baseplate on the foundation.
 15. A baseplate according to claim 14, said intermediate anchoring flange having a spearhead shape.
 16. An elongated combination stud and wallboard carrying baseplate adapted to be supported on a poured foundation of cementitious material, comprising: downwardly facing gauging means integral with one longitudinal edge portion of the baseplate adapted to rest on a form member to determine the elevation of the baseplate; a flange depending from said edge portion of the baseplate adapted to abut an inner side of the form member to determine the longitudinal placement of the baseplate whereby the baseplate is adapted to be supported on and oriented relative to the form member until he foundation material has set, thereby attaining accurate vertical and longitudinal placement of the baseplate on the foundation; an upward extension from said depending flange; and said gauging means comprising a downwardly and outwardly extending continuous flange on said extension serving not only as gauging means but also as a weather seal and means for engagement by a hook flange of a siding starter course. 